Chapter 2 TREMANNON FARM
　　It certainly was a lovely ride to Tremannon Farm. Poppies blew by the wayside in hundreds, andhoneysuckle threw its scent¹ out from the hedges as they passed. The corn stood high in the fields,touched with gold already, and splashed with the scarlet² of the poppies.
　　They came to Tremannon Village at last. It was really nothing but a winding³ street, set with a fewshops and houses, and beyond that, straggling out, were other houses. Farther off, set in the hills,were a few farm-houses, their grey stone walls gleaming in the sun.
　　The four children found the general store and went in. 'Any ice-cream?' said Julian hopefully.
　　But there was none. What a blow! There was orangeade and lemonade, however, quite cool throughbeing kept down in the cellar of the store.
　　'You be the folks that old Mrs. Penruthlan be having in?' said the village shopkeeper. 'She do beexpecting of you. Furriners, bain't you?'
　　'Well, not exactly,' said Julian, remembering that to many Cornish folk anyone was a foreigner whodid not belong to Cornwall. 'My mother had a great-aunt who lived in Cornwall all her life.
　　So we're not exactly ''furriners'', are we?'
　　'You're furriners all right,' said the bent⁴ little shopkeeper, looking at Julian with bird-like eyes.
　　'Your talk is furrin-like, too. Like that man Mrs. Penruthlan had before. We reckoned he was mad,though he was harmless enough.'
　　'Really?' said Julian, pouring himself out a third lemonade. 'Well, he was a scientist, and if you'regoing to be a really good one you have to be a bit mad, you know. At least, so I've heard. Golly, thislemonade is good. Can I have another bottle, please?'
　　The old woman suddenly laughed, sounding just like an amused hen. 'Well, well, Marty Penruthlan'sgot a fine meal ready for you, but seems like you won't be able to eat a thing, not with all thatlemonade splashing about in your innards!'
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　　'Don't say you can hear the splashing,' said Julian earnestly. 'Very bad manners, that! Furriners'
　　manners, I'm sure. Well, how much do we owe you? That was jolly good lemonade.'
　　He paid the bill and they all mounted their bicycles once more, having been given minute directionsas to how to get to the farm. Timmy set off with them, feeling much refreshed, having drunk steadilyfor four minutes without stopping.

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